Wire stretcher



H. P. NEPTUNE WIRE STRETCHER Filed May 23, 1930 w" //%////H 1 k 1 {19 (JQ \ze INVENTORQ By I ' ATTORNEY Patented Aug 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to wire stretchers, and the objects of my invention are:

First. To provide a device of this class which is particularlyeasy to operate, being capable of readily grasping a'wire or the like, and using as a fulcrum any convenient support.

Second. To provide a device of this class which may be used effectively in awkward or inconvenient places.

Third To provide a device of this class which requires but little effort to draw a wire or the like taut and to hold the wire until it can be fastened. I

Fourth. To provide a device of this class which is readily operated with one hand leaving the other free to fasten the wire once it is in position;

Fifth. To provide a device of this class which cannot accidentally slip or give way once it has grasped the'wire or the like.

o Sixth. To provide a device of this class having traction means, which, when once positioned, retain a purchase upon the object used as base for the fulcrum of the stretcher, so that 'a uniform steady pull may be maintained on the wire or the like, and

Seventh. To provide on the whole a novelly constructed wire stretcher which is particularly simple of construction, durable, eflicient in its action, and which Will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement .of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

4.0 Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of my wire stretcher, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof showing the fragmentary portion of a concrete form, and a tie wire used to prevent the form fromspreading so as to illustrate one use of the wire stretcher, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged frag mentary sectional view through 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing. 7

An end member- 1 isprovided which is substantially oval-shaped in plan as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper surface of the end member is notched out forming a centrally located, transversely extending shoulder 1a, the unnotched or thickened portion 1b of the end member forms a fulcrum portion. Its periphery is provided with a plurality of transverse grooves and ridges or corrugations 1c, constituting traction means.

The remaining or bracket portion 1d of the end member is approximately half as thick as the fulcrum portion 1b. The upper face 1c of the braket portion extends at right angles to the shoulder 1a, and supports the one end of a lever or handle member 2.

The supported end of the handle 2 is enlarged fan-wise and is provided with an arcuate shaped extremity 2a which faces the shoulder 1a and is adapted to co-act therewith so as to clamp a wire W as shown best in Fig. 2. Near this end, the handle 2 receives a pin 3 which extends 7 downwardlyv therethrough and into the bracket portion 1d as shown best in Fig. 3. The pin 3 may be in the form of a rivet with its ends 3a countersunk. I

The handle portion 2b of the lever is relatively long as shown in Fig. 2.

The end member is, of course, made of metal, and in order to lighten the structure, recesses If and la may be provided in the upper and lower sides thereof as shown in several views of the drawing. Likewise recesses 20 may be pro vided along the handle 2b.

The operation of my wire stretcher is as follows:

The fulcrum portion 1b of the end member 1 s5 is positioned so as to bear against a suitable support such as the bracing A of a form B as shown in Fig. 2. With the handle substantially in the position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the tool is shifted so as to receive the wire W be tween the shoulder 10. and the arcuate extremity 2a, these portions forming jaws of a clamp with which to grasp the wire. It will be noted that the radius of the arcuate portion 2a is greater than the distance between the end of the handle and the pin 3.

When the wire is in the proper position, the handle 2 is shifted in the direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, whereupon the clamp portions 1a and 2a engage opposite sides of the wire and prevent it from slipping through the tool. Continued movement of the handle 2b causes the end member 1 to rotate on the roll on the traction means or corrugations 20, which act as a fulcrum. The position of the wire being relatively close to the fulcrum end, a considerable leverage is'obtained with a relatively short handle 2b. As soon as the required tension of the wire is obtained, a staple or other securing means is driven into the bracing A, so as to secure the wire. By taking a second cite further along the wire, it may be drawn around the end of the bracing A and additional staples be used so that the wire is firmly secured to the support.

In a similar manner the wire stretcher is suitable for drawing wires of fences or the like so that they may be secured to fence posts. Other uses of the tool readily suggest themselves.

It is obvious from the construction as illustrated in the drawing, more particularly described in the foregoing specification, that there is provided a wire stretcher as aimed at and set forth in the objects of the invention, and though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and ar rangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the class desc'ibed, consisting of a fulcrum member having a thickened end and a reduced end forming a relatively long fiat shoulder, said thickened end provided with corrugations around its entire outer surface and forming the fulcrum portion of said fulcrum member, and a lever pivotally mounted upon said reduced end, said lever having a symmetrical arcuate extremity extending in opposite directions from the ion ,itudinal axis and facing said shoulder so as to form therewith a clamp when turned in eitrer direction 2. A device of the class described, consisting of a corrugated round ended fulcrum member, a lever pivotally supported at the one end of the fulcrum member at one side, a clamp jaw formed at the opposite sides of the one end of said lever, and a second clamp jaw formed on said fulcrum member arranged to co-act with said. first clamp jaw, the end of said fulcrum member remote from said lever'forming the fulcrum portion of said fulcrum member.

3.. A device of the class described, consisting of an oblong fulcrum member having a reduced end portion near its minor axis forming with the remaining unrcduced portion of said fulcrum member a flat jaw, a handle 'pivotally supported.

on said reduced portion, a second jaw provided on said handle means arrangedfto co-act with said first jaw to form a clamp, and traction means formed on the entire outer surface of said unreduced portion of said fulcrum member.

4 A deviceof the class described, consisting of a symmetrical round ended fulcrum member, a lever pivotally supported at the one 'end of the fulcrum member, a symmetrical curved double oval shaped fulcrum member one end thereof be ing thickened and transversely corrugated, the other end thereof being reduced in thickness and forming with the first end a shoulder, and a lever pivotally mounted on the second or reduced por tion and including a symmetrical rounded end portion arranged to form with said shoulder a clamp when the lever is shifted in either direction.

6. A wire stretcher comprising a symmetrical oval shaped fulcrum member including a shoulder disposed along its minor transverse axis and dividing the fulcrum member into substantially equal end portions, the one being thicker than the other, the other forming a ledge, and a lever mounted in limited revoluble relation upon said ledge and including a symmetrical curved clamp element at its end adjacent the shoulder arranged to coact therewith when the lever is shifted to either of its extreme positions.

7. A wire stretcher comprising a symmetrical oval shaped fulcrum member including a shoulder for-me along the minor transverse axis and dividing the fulcrum member into equal end portions, the one being thicker than the other, corrugations extending continuously from one end of said shoulder. to the other around the thicker rounded end portion of the fulcrum member, the,

remaining end'portion forming a ledge, and a levermounted in limited revoluble relation upon said ledge and including a symmetrical curved clamp element at its end adjacent the shoulder arranged to coact therewith when the lever is shifted to. either of its extreme positions.

8. A form tie wire stretching tool comprising a symmetrical oval shaped fulcrum member one end'thcreof being thickened and transversely corrugated, the other end. thereof being reduced. in thickness and forming with the first end av shoulder, and alever pivotally mounted on the second or reduced portion and including a symmetrical rounded end portion arranged to form with said shoulder a clamp when the lever is shifted in either direction.

19. A form tie wire stretching tool comprising a symmetrical oval shaped fulcrum member including a shoulder disposed along its minor axis and dividing the fulcrum member into substantially equal end portions, the one being thicker than the other, the-other forming a ledge, and a lever mounted inlimited revoluble relation upon said ledge and including a symmetrical curved clamp element at its end adjacent the shoulder arranged to coact therewith when'the lever is shifted to either of its extreme positions.

, 10. A form tie wire stretching tool comprising a symmetrical oval shaped fulcrum member including asiiouldcr formed along the minor transverse axis anddividing the fulcrum member into e ual end portions, the one being thicker than the other, corrugations extending continuously from one end 'of said shoulder to the other around the thicker rounded end portion of the fulcrum member, the remaining end portion forming a ledge, and a lever mounted in limited revoluble relation uponsaid ledge and including -a symmetrical curved clamp element at its end adjacent the shoulder arranged to coact therewith when the lever is shifted to either of its extreme. positions.

. HERMAN P. NEPTUNE. 

